Fish and chips and mushy peas, castle ruins from the days of Robin Hood and William Wallace, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, the United Kingdom is instantly familiar yet waiting to be explored. Made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland this colonial superpower once held dominion over three quarters of the globe. It is a treasure trove of cultural wealth and understated natural beauty. Its geography sweeps from windswept, mountainous highlands, to green and pleasant rolling countryside, cosy villages and vibrant cities. The country is jam-packed with two millennia of heritage, so despite its seemingly small size, holidays in the UK of any length of time feel too short. So grab yourself a pint and get started.